Mitchell Fraboni

Broncos Eyed RB TreVeyon Henderson In Round 1

Bolstering their secondary by choosing Jahdae Barron, the Broncos next turned to what many considered their top need. The team drafted Central Florida running back R.J. Harvey at No. 60 overall.

While Harvey is expected to quickly push to the head of a Denver backfield committee, the team was connected to first-round running backs in mock drafts for months. Sean Payton said the trade-up rumors surrounding his team were unfounded, but the Broncos did eye at least one RB via a trade-down maneuver during the first round.

It is believed Denver was interested in Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson in the event of a first-round trade-down move, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel notes. GM George Paton said after Round 1 one running back drew interest from the team, and it is interesting that it does not appear to have been Omarion Hampton — the North Carolina product many had going to Denver at No. 20.

Hampton went two spots later to the Chargers. Henderson was viewed as a threat to be the draft’s third RB off the board. That nearly came to fruition, but the Browns took fellow Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins first. Henderson went two picks later, at No. 38, to the Patriots. The Broncos met with Hampton, Judkins, Henderson and Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson on “30” visits.

It will be Harvey set to team with Jaleel McLaughlin and 2024 fifth-round pick Audric Estime. Javonte Williams joined the Cowboys in free agency. The Broncos deemed a trade-down move (via the Panthers) to No. 57 a safe play due to not deeming the teams behind their No. 51 spot as a particularly RB-needy lot, Gabriel adds. The team then dropped three more spots in a trade with the Lions.

Receiving rave reviews for his pass-protection skills, Henderson also drew attention for his potential as a receiving option. Payton has generated considerable value from receiving backs throughout his career, as the likes of Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara became central pieces in his Saints offenses. Payton has yet to find that in Denver, continually expressing a desire to add a “joker” to his offense.

The Broncos now have Harvey and Evan Engram, the latter being added after the team’s post-Noah Fant offenses received little tight end contributions. But Henderson checked in with a higher profile compared to Harvey, who dazzled at the mid-major level before clocking a 4.40-second Combine 40-yard time. (Henderson ranked 32nd on Daniel Jeremiah’s final NFL.com big board this year, while Harvey was 99th.) Henderson battled injuries with the Buckeyes but was one of the nation’s top RBs when healthy. That included last season, when he and Judkins formed a 1,000-1,000 tandem to help the team to a national championship. Henderson paced the Big Ten with a 7.1-yard average per carry, totaling 1,300 scrimmage yards and 11 TDs.

Elsewhere on Denver’s roster, the team will use third-round pick Sai’vion Jones as a defensive end in their 3-4 scheme, 9News’ Mike Klis tweets. Although LSU had played Jones as an edge defender, his 283-pound frame aligns more closely with a five-technique player. The Broncos have both their starting D-ends — Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers — in contract years. While both appear extension candidates during Bo Nix‘s rookie contract, Jones adds a potential option in the event the team does not pay one of them.

Denver long snapper Mitchell Fraboni underwent back surgery recently, per Klis, who describes it as a cleanup. Fraboni, who has been with the Broncos since 2022, is expected to be ready for training camp. The team has him signed through the 2027 season. Recent addition Zach Triner will snap during the team’s offseason program, though it does not yet sound like this is a competition.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/9/25

With free agency less than 12 hours away, here are Sunday’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

Minnesota Vikings

Both players were set to be restricted free agents. With the low-end tender costing $3.26MM this year, neither team appeared likely to tender their respective RFAs. Fraboni was not set to be tendered, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Fraboni has been Denver’s long snapper for the past two full seasons, arriving during the 2022 season.

Wright has been the Vikings’ punter for the past three years. He averaged a career-high 48.9 yards per punt in 2023 and checked in at 46.5 last season. Wright will earn $1.75MM on a one-year contract, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/5/25

More teams made tender/non-tender decisions on restricted and exclusive rights free agents today. Here are the latest updates:

RFAs

Non-tendered:

Fraboni has served as the Broncos’ primary long snapper for each of the past two seasons, playing in all 17 games of each year as well as this year’s playoff contest. Denver will have until next Wednesday to keep him from hitting the market if they intend to retain him.

ERFAs

Tendered: 

The Broncos tendered all five of their exclusive rights free agents today. The Packers made an easy decision to retain Anderson, who started two games this year and recorded his first career interception.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/16/22

Today’s minor transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/22

Here are today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

New England Patriots

  • Promoted from practice squad: DT Bill Murray

Broncos QB Russell Wilson Ruled Out, Brett Rypien Will Start

After Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett initially asserted that quarterback Russell Wilson would be a gametime decision, the first-year head coach decided to exercise caution today and announce that the team would hold back their big-money passer in order to allow his hamstring injury to heal and prevent a lingering issue down the line, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Denver will turn to third-year quarterback Brett Rypien to start in Wilson’s absence.

Wilson suffered the injury in last week’s overtime loss to the Chargers but was able to stay in and complete the game. Wilson felt he could play this week against the Jets, but Hackett will err on the side of caution and hold him out. Schefter also reports that Wilson’s injury will be re-evaluated next week to determine if he will even be able to return against the Jaguars when the Broncos travel to London.

Rypien will start his first game since his rookie season in 2020. Oddly enough, Rypien’s first start was also against the Jets. Rypien gave the Broncos their first win of the season that year with a performance that showcased both some good and some bad. In the lone start, Rypien completed 19 of 31 passes for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns but also gave away three interceptions. Regardless, he led the Broncos to a nine-point win over the Jets and will hope for a similar outcome tomorrow.

In a related move, the Broncos have used one of their gameday elevations on veteran, journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson to back up Rypien. Johnson started a game as recently as last year, when he subbed in on an injury-riddled Ravens offense that was without Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Johnson put forth an impressive performance in that game completing 28 of 40 pass attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns, along with one interception.

The team will utilize their second gameday promotion on practice squad long snapper Mitchell Fraboni.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/17/22

Today’s minor moves around the league:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Tennessee Titans

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/11/22

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: TE Seth Green
  • Released: LS Tucker Addington

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • Signed: DL Micah Dew-Treadway, OT K.C. McDermott
  • Released: TE Nick Eubanks

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

  • Released: OL Sebastian Gutierrez

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/21

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

  • Waived: FB Mikey Daniel

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: G Anthony Coyle

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/21

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Carolina Panthers

Houston Texans

  • Signed: LS Mitchell Fraboni
  • Waived: LB Nate Hall

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: QB Case Cookus
  • Claimed off waivers (from Seahawks): QB Danny Etling

New Orleans Saints

Washington Football Team